TACE Versus HAIC, Combined With PD-1 Inhibitors and Lenvatinib for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

NCT ID: NCT07340502

Last Updated: 2026-01-14

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 364 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-01-31
• Study Completion Date: 2028-12-31

Brief Summary

Although the combination of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with PD-1 inhibitor plus lenvatinib has become a new standard, the therapeutic efficacy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) still requires improvement, as TACE remains limited for patients with multifocal lesions, hypovascular tumors, or those complicated with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), as an alternative locoregional therapy, has demonstrated advantages in treating these refractory cases. Therefore, this study innovatively designs a prospective cohort study to conduct a comparison of the two triple-combination regimens-"HAIC plus PD-1 inhibitor and lenvatinib" versus "TACE plus PD-1 inhibitor and lenvatinib"-in terms of real-world efficacy and safety, with a focus on enrolling patients who are likely to have suboptimal responses to TACE. This research aims to provide high-level evidence for selecting the optimal combined locoregional strategy for uHCC patients, thereby directly guiding clinical practice and potentially advancing the optimization of treatment strategies and personalized precision medicine to improve patient survival outcomes.

Detailed Description

This is a multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study designed to compare the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) versus hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC), each combined with a programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor and lenvatinib, for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), with a primary focus on progression-free survival (PFS). A total of 364 patients are planned to be enrolled and prospectively followed for efficacy and adverse events. The primary endpoint is PFS. Secondary endpoints include the objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and safety. Tumor response will be evaluated according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST v1.1). Assessments will be performed every 56 days (with a ±3-day window) from the initiation of study treatment until disease progression, patient death, withdrawal of consent, loss to follow-up, or study termination (whichever occurs first). For patients who experience disease progression or initiate other antitumor therapies, survival follow-up will be conducted every 8 weeks (56 days, with a ±7-day window) from the time the event is documented to collect information on subsequent antitumor treatments and survival status until death, withdrawal of consent, loss to follow-up, or study termination.

Conditions

HCC

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

TACE-based combination treatment cohort

Patients in this group were treated with TACE plus a PD-1 inhibitor and lenvatinib

TACE

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

TACE blocks the tumor's blood supply while delivering high concentrations of chemotherapy agents directly into the hepatic artery. Patients received on-demand TACE until the end of the study or tumor progression.

PD-1inhibitors

Intervention Type: DRUG

200mg was given intravenously every three weeks.

Lenvatinib

Intervention Type: DRUG

The dose is determined by body weight, body weight greater than or equal to 60kg, 12mg, oral; Less than 60kg, 8mg, orally.

HAIC-based combination treatment cohort

Patients in this group were treated with HAIC plus a PD-1 inhibitor and lenvatinib

HAIC

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

HAIC involves the continuous infusion of high-dose chemotherapy into the hepatic artery via an indwelling catheter, enabling prolonged and deep tumor exposure. Patients received on-demand HAIC until the end of the study or tumor progression.

PD-1inhibitors

Intervention Type: DRUG

200mg was given intravenously every three weeks.

Lenvatinib

Intervention Type: DRUG

The dose is determined by body weight, body weight greater than or equal to 60kg, 12mg, oral; Less than 60kg, 8mg, orally.

Interventions

TACE

TACE blocks the tumor's blood supply while delivering high concentrations of chemotherapy agents directly into the hepatic artery. Patients received on-demand TACE until the end of the study or tumor progression.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

HAIC

HAIC involves the continuous infusion of high-dose chemotherapy into the hepatic artery via an indwelling catheter, enabling prolonged and deep tumor exposure. Patients received on-demand HAIC until the end of the study or tumor progression.

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

PD-1inhibitors

200mg was given intravenously every three weeks.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Lenvatinib

The dose is determined by body weight, body weight greater than or equal to 60kg, 12mg, oral; Less than 60kg, 8mg, orally.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged between 18 and 75 years;
• Tumor stage classified as BCLC-A to -C, with no evidence of extrahepatic metastasis;
• Newly diagnosed, treatment-naïve hepatocellular carcinoma with no prior anticancer therapy;
• Child-Pugh liver function score ≤ 7;
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) of 0 or 1;
• Absence of severe organic diseases affecting major organs (e.g., heart, lung, brain).

Exclusion Criteria

• Decompensated liver cirrhosis;
• Concurrent other malignancies or recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma;
• Any active, known, or suspected autoimmune disease;
• History of hypersensitivity to any component of PD-1 inhibitors or lenvatinib;
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; or active viral hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis B or C);
• Tumor thrombus involving the inferior vena cava, hepatic veins, or the main portal vein trunk.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 75 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Tongji Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Wan-Guang Zhang

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Wanguang Zhang

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Tongji Hospital

Central Contacts

Wanguang Zhang

Role: CONTACT

wgzhang@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn

13886195965

Other Identifiers

CHALLENGE-06

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id